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High school students explore careers with Early College opportunities
Imagine trying a career on for size, tuition-free, even before graduating from high school. That’s precisely what Lake Mills High School student Nevea Bonsack did.
Nevea has dreamed of becoming a nurse since childhood. When her high school counselor told her about nursing courses at our Watertown campus, Nevea was excited, seeing it as an excellent opportunity to get a head start on her future career.
Our Early College programs redefine educational pathways for high school students.
Nevea and her high school classmates, Danayara Garcia and Frida Cabrera, traveled to the Watertown campus to take in-person and online classes with our staff, who have real-life expertise in their respective fields. The teens, who graduated in June, trained in state-of-the-art facilities that mimic real hospitals and clinics.
Through her Early College experience, Nevea is making a positive impact on others’ lives, while Danayara loves the challenge. “Working with professionals allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and learn more than what I would have learned in a high school class,” says Danayara. She is considering a career in a medical field and believes the experience will enhance her college applications. She says taking college classes for free is a win-win situation.
We offer teens various early college opportunities, including dual-credit courses taught by qualified high school teachers at local schools. There are also opportunities such as the STEM Academy and the Education Academy, where students are full-time students on our campuses.
Teens can also elevate their education with Early College Academies or acquire skills in nursing, basic early childhood education, biotechnical laboratory support assistant, emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, and more.
In spring 2025, Grant Clark graduated from Lake Mills High School and Madison College simultaneously, earning a certificate in welding and metal fabrication.
While in the program, Grant already had interviews lined up for a career that pays well and offers excellent benefits: “There are all sorts of job opportunities in this field, especially around here, and this gives me a head start without requiring me to pay for tuition out of pocket.” Lake Mills Area School District’s Director of Community Education Carmen Weldon emphasizes the strong support the school district gives to elevate its students’ career pathways: “Our goal is to provide as many opportunities for our students as possible. When a student tells you ‘this has been a game changer’ it shows just how impactful these opportunities can be. That’s something to be proud of and something we want to be a part of.”
Long-time Madison College Fort Atkinson instructor Jimmy DeGidio emphasizes that the metal fabrication with bolt-on program, that combines the permanence of a weld with the flexibility of a bolt, was developed to meet local employers’ needs while also offering career opportunities for young professionals.
“There is a lot of hands-on learning in this program, which is where these students truly excel,” Jimmy says. “This is something they can engage in, and they will leave with two one-year diplomas. It’s really exciting.”
“I like that the program is hands-on instead of sitting at a desk, I have the best of both worlds: the opportunity to learn in the classroom and then apply what I have learned in the lab. I am learning ten times what I would have learned in high school with the opportunities to use the equipment at the Fort Atkinson campus.”
– Grant Clark, Lake Mills graduate
